San Rafael motorcyclist killed in collision involving Whistlestop bus

A motorcyclist died Wednesday after apparently losing control of his motorcycle in San Rafael and getting hit by a Whistlestop shuttle on Highway 101, police said.

The motorcyclist was identified as a 65-year-old San Rafael man, the California Highway Patrol said. His name was not released until his family could be notified.

The incident occurred about 5:30 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 just south of the North San Pedro exit. According to the preliminary CHP investigation, the motorcyclist was between lanes when he suddenly braked hard and fell on his left side into the fast lane.

The driver of the Whistlestop shuttle told police she swerved, missing the motorcyclist with the front of the bus but striking him with the back side, said CHP Officer Andrew Barclay.

No other vehicles hit the motorcyclist in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the shuttle, 63-year-old Jill Tramontano of Fairfax, is not suspected of wrongdoing, Barclay said.

The county coroner's division is investigating the death.

No one was injured on the shuttle, which was carrying two passengers. Whistlestop provides transportation for disabled, sick and elderly residents in Marin.

Two lanes were blocked after the crash and heavy traffic was reported. All the northbound lanes were back open by about 7:30 p.m., the CHP said.